84 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 17, 
A WESTERN NEW YORK WATER 
SUPPLY. 
(Continued from page 83.) 
window enables us to water nearby flow¬ 
ers, wash carriages, etc. It is kept 
coiled for immediate use, and might be 
valuable in case of fire in cellar or 
kitchen. Below is estimate of cost: 
2 Galvanized tanks, 2%x6 ft., at $9, $1S 
1 Double-action force pump. 11 
Piping, valves, fittings.13 
30-gal. hot water tank. 8 
$50 
It should be noticed that the same pipe 
which fills the tanks also supplies the 
different faucets and bathroom, thus sav¬ 
ing in first cost, reducing number of 
pipes in rooms below. To avoid running 
the tanks over when pumping a home¬ 
made electrical device rings a bell when 
either tank is full. This is simply a 
wood float which rises with water, caus¬ 
ing two wires to lower into a cup of 
mercury, completing the circuit. We 
used the door bell already installed, so 
only cost was for wire, mercury and a 
two-way switch costing less than a dollar 
in all. This is not a necessity, but saves 
an occasional trip upstairs. I inclose 
sketch, which is shown on page S3. 
Cayuga Co., N. Y. a. u. koan. 
FERNS FOR THE HOUSE. 
The trade in potted greenhouse ferns 
has now assumed enormous proportions; 
they are bought as individual specimens, 
and in pans or baskets, while florists use 
vast quantities of them in conjunction 
Pax op Mixed Ferns. 
with cut flowers. Most of the varieties 
in ordinary commercial use are excellent 
for the house, if treated properly, 
v At the head of large single specimens 
the Nephrolepis continues to hold its 
place. The familiar Boston fern is a 
greenhouse form of Nephrolepis exaltata, 
though N. cordata compacta is often 
called dwarf Boston fern. Varieties of 
the Boston fern, with crested, slashed 
or divided fronds, are numerous; most 
of them are robust and desirable, and 
prove of distinct commercial value, 
though the ordinary type still holds its 
place. The Boston fern likes a good com- 
A Young Boston Fern. 
post of loam and leaf-mold, with the ad¬ 
dition of some well-rotted manure. There 
must be good drainage, as the plant needs 
plenty of water, but dislikes sour or 
waterlogged soil. In the Summer es¬ 
pecially it will need lots of water, as the 
extensive root system will dry out the 
soil quite rapidly. During the Summer 
it may be out on the porch or in partial 
shade under a tree. We are accustomed 
to regard all ferns as shade-loving plants, 
but in the Winter the Boston ferns need 
all the sunshine they can get, and the 
house gardener must not push a speci¬ 
men fern off into some dark corner, and 
then expect it to thrive. Yellow fronds often 
result from chill and starvation; the col¬ 
or becomes pale where the temperature 
gets below GO degrees at night, in the 
Winter. An occasional dose of liquid 
' manure, or a very small quantity of 
dried blood, will increase vigor of plant. 
Insect troubles are few with the Bos¬ 
ton fern; red spider or thrips sometimes 
appear in a dry hot atmosphere, but 
may be controlled by vigorous syringing 
with cold water. Several sorts of scale, 
or the pernicious mealy-bug, sometimes 
gain a foothold; the best plan with a sin¬ 
gle specimen plant is to rub them off 
with a brush or softened toothpick dipped 
in soapsuds. If the plant is clean when 
procured, there will be no trouble from 
scale unless infested plants are in its 
vicinity. The fancy Boston ferns, with 
crested or forked foliage, are very diffi¬ 
cult to cleanse if once infested. 
The small ferns in general use include 
Cyrtomiums, Aspidiums, Onychiums, 
Adiantums, Tteris, small Davallias and 
others; when made up in a group small 
plants of the asparagus vine often min¬ 
gle with them. Cyrtomium frlcatum and 
C. Rochfordianum are sometimes called 
holly ferns, because of their shining, 
slightly angular pinnae, and they are both 
excellent house plants. They need good 
light and a reasonable amount of water; 
if allowed to dry out the fronds flag, and 
may be permanently crippled; it is not 
unusual to see house specimens in this 
condition. Our personal experience with 
Cyrtomiums is very favorable, as we 
keep them growing on year after year. 
After danger of frost is over these house 
ferns are all set outside for the Summer, 
in a partly shaded place. They must not 
be forgotten when taking their Summer 
vacation, for small pots dry out quickly, 
and they need copious watering. 
The only maidenhair fern we have 
grown with prolonged success in the house 
is Adiantum cuneatum, and one specimen 
has stayed with us for over 20 years. 
The fronds are very airy and graceful, 
and as the plant prefers partial shade a 
north window will provide a congenial 
home. This maidenhair likes a temper¬ 
ature of 60 degrees to 65 degrees. Iii 
the early Summer it dies down more or 
less, and takes a partial rest, while placed 
in the shade outside; following the rest 
new fronds appear, and the plant is 
very attractive through the Winter. Our 
beautiful native maidenhair, Adiantum 
pedatum, which grows scarcer year by 
year, is desirable for a shaded border or 
window box during the Summer but dies 
down in Winter. 
Onychium Japonicum is an Asiatic 
fern with light green finely cut fronds, 
very often used in fern pans; it requires 
the same treatment as Cyrtomiums, and 
is very dependable. Various forms of 
Pteris are very popular as house plants; 
they have fronds divided into strap-like 
pinnae, some being crested and contorted. 
Among those most commonly grown in 
the trade are Pteris Cretica and its var¬ 
iety Albo-lineata, which has a broad 
white line down the center of the pin¬ 
nae ; P. serrulata, light bright green, with 
many crested forms, and P. tremula, with 
bright green pinnae on slender chestnut- 
brown stalks. The different forms of 
Pteris being strong growers, they are like¬ 
ly to become starved when crowded into 
a small fern pan with a number of other 
plants, and P. tremula especially will 
soon lose color with starvation; occa¬ 
sional doses of liquid manure will keep 
them in condition. 
When the house ferns are put outside 
during the Summer, be sure they are 
brought in before cold Fall rains start. 
Many house plants, especially ferns, 
palms and rubber plants, get a check at 
this time that they never recover from. 
The chill received from a cold rainstorm 
at this season affects the fine root system, 
and damaged foliage results. 
Several of the smaller Davallias are 
used in fern dishes and hanging baskets, 
some of these being used for the quaint 
monsters twisted into monkeys and other 
forms by the Japanese. The creeping 
rootstocks, covered with light brown 
scales, look almost like rabbits’ paws. 
As a summary of fern-growing in the 
house, don’t thrust them into a dark 
corner because “they don’t need sun”; 
water them regularly; see that drainage 
is good, and feed them before they be¬ 
come starved. The loveliest and more 
delicate of ferns (apart from some trop¬ 
ical sorts) may be grown in a Wardian 
case, which is now old-fashioned as com¬ 
pared with the widespread fern dish. 
THE RURAL PATTERNS 
When ordering patterns always give number 
of pattern and measurements desired 
PRICE OF EACH PATTERN, 10 CENTS 
?/• V.'S >'■’ > r. 
rv* /•: 
'/XV/*?.-' 
r->.*.. t / ** 
r'A* 
v.qW; 
*.> 
’/■ 
8030 Two-Piece Skirt, 22 to 30 waist. 
With or without Trimming Straps, with High 
or Natural Waist Line. 
8029 Faacy Blouse, 34 to 42 bust. 
With Long or Elbow Sleeves, with or without 
Peplom ami Chemisette. 
Cfl'JO Semi-Princess Dress for Misses and 
OUOs. Small Women, 16 and 18 years. 
Witli Three-Quarter or Long Sleeves. 
Embroidery Hints 
The prices quoted are for stamped goods and 
material for working, but transfer patterns of 
any design will be furnished separately 
for 10 cents each. 
No. 544. Design for elhbroidering two bread 
tray doylies. The large dovley is thirteen 
inches, the shorter is ten inches long. 
Stamped on Best White Round Thread, 
Scotch Linen, with mercerized floss to 
work...§ 
Np. 559. A design for embroidering the 
ends of a towel. It can be used for material 
twenty-four inches wide or narrower. 
Guest Towel, Stamped on superfine 24x15 
inch pure linen white Huckaback, with mer¬ 
cerized floss to work.$ .55 
No. 775. A design for embroidering ail eight 
inch square. 
Stamped on eight inch. Round Thread, 
Scotch White Linen, with four skeins of white 
mercerized floss.g 20 
For a Set of Eight...! ‘ '$ l'.50 
No. 773. A design for embroidering the cover 
for a pincushion six inches square. 
Stamped on Fine White Irish Linen for a 
6 inch square cushion, with mercerized floss 
to work.$ .30 
No. 778. A design for embroidering an in¬ 
fant’s pillow. The scalloped edges are to be 
padded and buttonholed. 
Stamped on 21 x 10 inch White Pure Irish 
Linen, with mercerized floss to work.$ .60 
No. 740 is a design for embroidering a center- 
piece thirty-six inches in diameter. 
Centerpiece. Stamped on the best round 
thread linen. 30 inches in diameter, one dozen 
of 12-yard skeins of mercerized floss in two 
sizes ..§ .98 
No. 777. A design for embroidering a fancy 
apron, including the outline of the apron. 
Stamped on best White Irish Linen, with 
mercerized floss to work.$ ,3o 
No. 720 is a design for embroidering a corset 
cover. 
Corset Cover, Stamped on best quality 
nainsook, with mercerized floss to work in 
three sizes, 34, 36 anti 38. $ .45 
No. 706. Design for an embroidered hand¬ 
kerchief case. 
Stamped on the best pure white iinen, with 
mercerized floss to work ....§ .30 
No. 738. A design for embroidering the ends 
or a dresser scarf twenty inches wide. 
Dresser and Scarf. Stamped on best round 
thread, while linen, 20 x 54 inches.§1 .98 
One dozen of 12-yard skeins of mercerized 
floss in two sizes.g .20 
